Summary of DAW operation and the importance of session management.
Digital audio workstation (DAW) software digitally emulates the basic hardware of a recording studio setup. Within a DAW, recording and editing audio is possible through the array of available digital processing operations. While using HDD space as it’s tape, a standard DAW is usually consisting of at minimum an arrangement / mixer window, where audio signal is able to be recorded in and displayed as an arrangement where the user can use a variety of functions individually to edit audio files individually or to create a composition with other clips and samples. Arrangement options consist of layering audio clips through multiple tracks, duplication of audio clips, standard copy / cut / paste operations, as well as digitally altering recorded audio files in usually destructive processes such as stretching / shrinking / inverting. Most DAWs will have their own versions of fairly standardised editing tools similar to Pro Tools options trim / select / slide which alter the clips themselves by cropping / moving within the arrangement window, and editing modes such as it’s shuffle / spot / slip / grid which can determine how clips are handled when processed by tools to be either moved in sequence, left static, or fixed to specified resolution of bars or beats.
In contrast to this the mixer window of a DAW will consist of a digital representation of a typical hardware mixer, where focus is on the sound design over composition. The mixer is where audio is routed and can be sent through non-destructive alterations and effects like equalisers / reverbs / delay units, with vast multi-channel handling each containing input / output, sends / receives and buses, along with muting / soloing / panning and volume levelling.
DAWs all share the functions of opening, building and saving session files which the current project and a whole may be handled and be applied with a number of overarching options such as filetype selection, recording / playback resolution, bit-sizing, stereo / interleaved formatting and file naming.
Some DAWs may also include many other windows, one other which is DAW specific would be the session window of Ableton, where multiple audio / midi clips may be built-up and processed before arrangement to create a unique workflow in comparison to other DAWs.
Session management generally when working with DAWs is an important aspect of it’s successful and smooth operation. Not maintaining tidy clips, tracks and mixer arrangement itself can lead to a disruptive workflow and bring around issues which could otherwise be avoided.
